With reference to the role of rumours in 1857, consider the following statements: 1. There was a rumour that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour sold in the market. 2. Vishnubhatt Godse wrote that the British had no intention of interfering in Indian religions. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

The correct option is (a) 1 only Explanation The Revolt of 1857 was triggered not just by political or economic grievances but also by deep-seated socio-religious fears. Rumours and prophecies played a crucial role in mobilizing the sepoys and the common people, creating a collective panic that the British government was determined to destroy the caste and religion of Indians. Statement-wise Analysis - Statement 1 is Correct: During the months leading up to the revolt, there was a widespread rumour in the cantonments and towns that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour (atta) sold in the market. This rumour, alongside the issue of greased cartridges, reinforced the belief that the British were attempting to defile the caste and religion of both Hindus and Muslims. - Statement 2 is Incorrect: Vishnubhatt Godse, a Brahmin from a village in Maharashtra, wrote a travelogue titled Majha Pravas. In this text, he recorded that he met sepoys who told him that the British were determined to wipe out the religions of Hindus and Muslims. According to his account, the sepoys claimed the British had formulated a list of 84 rules to enforce this, which caused significant unrest among Indian kings and soldiers. He did not write that the British had no intention of interfering; rather, his account highlights the prevailing belief that they intended to enforce religious conversion or defilement. Key Takeaway Rumours regarding the defilement of caste-such as the use of cow and pig fat in cartridges and bone dust in flour-acted as immediate triggers for the Revolt of 1857 by creating a mass psychology of fear regarding religious identity.

NCERT Class 8 History — Chapter 4: When People Revolt 1857 and After

mcqhard

With reference to the role of rumours in 1857, consider the following statements:

There was a rumour that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour sold in the market.
Vishnubhatt Godse wrote that the British had no intention of interfering in Indian religions.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Official previous-year question

Verified 1 Aug 2026.

Options

A1 only
B2 only
CBoth 1 and 2
DNeither 1 nor 2

Did you get this right?

Solution

The correct option is (a) 1 only

Explanation

The Revolt of 1857 was triggered not just by political or economic grievances but also by deep-seated socio-religious fears. Rumours and prophecies played a crucial role in mobilizing the sepoys and the common people, creating a collective panic that the British government was determined to destroy the caste and religion of Indians.

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: During the months leading up to the revolt, there was a widespread rumour in the cantonments and towns that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour (atta) sold in the market. This rumour, alongside the issue of greased cartridges, reinforced the belief that the British were attempting to defile the caste and religion of both Hindus and Muslims.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Vishnubhatt Godse, a Brahmin from a village in Maharashtra, wrote a travelogue titled Majha Pravas. In this text, he recorded that he met sepoys who told him that the British were determined to wipe out the religions of Hindus and Muslims. According to his account, the sepoys claimed the British had formulated a list of 84 rules to enforce this, which caused significant unrest among Indian kings and soldiers. He did not write that the British had no intention of interfering; rather, his account highlights the prevailing belief that they intended to enforce religious conversion or defilement.

Key Takeaway

Rumours regarding the defilement of caste-such as the use of cow and pig fat in cartridges and bone dust in flour-acted as immediate triggers for the Revolt of 1857 by creating a mass psychology of fear regarding religious identity.

Your note

More from Chapter 4: When People Revolt 1857 and After

With reference to the policies of the East India Company towards Indian rulers in the mid-18th century, consider the following statements: 1. The Company imposed subsidiary alliances on territories like Awadh as early as 1801. 2. Governor-General Canning declared that Bahadur Shah Zafar would continue to be recognized as King after his death. 3. The Company continued to mint coins with the Mughal king’s name until the revolt of 1857 broke out. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Consider the following statements regarding the discontent among the Indian sepoys employed by the Company: 1. They were unhappy about their pay, allowances, and conditions of service. 2. The General Service Enlistment Act of 1856 exempted new recruits from serving overseas. 3. In 1824, the sepoys refused to go to Burma by the sea route. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Which of the following pairs of leaders and their associated regions during the Revolt of 1857 is correctly matched? 1. Birjis Qadr : Lucknow 2. Rani Avantibai Lodhi : Ramgarh 3. Kunwar Singh : Kanpur 4. Bakht Khan : Bareilly Select the correct answer using the code given below:

easy

The book *Majha Pravaas*, which provides details about the impending upheaval of 1857, was written by:

easy

With reference to the administrative changes introduced after the Revolt of 1857, consider the following statements: 1. A member of the British Cabinet was appointed as the Governor-General of India. 2. The Governor-General of India was given the title of Viceroy. 3. The proportion of Indian soldiers in the army was reduced. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

medium

Keep practising Chapter 4: When People Revolt 1857 and After

Work through every question from this NCERT chapter.

Browse all NCERT Class 8 History chapters

The correct option is (a) 1 only

Explanation

Statement-wise Analysis

Statement 1 is Correct: During the months leading up to the revolt, there was a widespread rumour in the cantonments and towns that the British had mixed the bone dust of cows and pigs into the flour (atta) sold in the market. This rumour, alongside the issue of greased cartridges, reinforced the belief that the British were attempting to defile the caste and religion of both Hindus and Muslims.
Statement 2 is Incorrect: Vishnubhatt Godse, a Brahmin from a village in Maharashtra, wrote a travelogue titled Majha Pravas. In this text, he recorded that he met sepoys who told him that the British were determined to wipe out the religions of Hindus and Muslims. According to his account, the sepoys claimed the British had formulated a list of 84 rules to enforce this, which caused significant unrest among Indian kings and soldiers. He did not write that the British had no intention of interfering; rather, his account highlights the prevailing belief that they intended to enforce religious conversion or defilement.